Bad '70s flashbacks for front-runners (CA recall) S J Mercury News

[Ediacara]

Posted on Fri, Aug. 29, 2003

Bad '70s flashbacks for front-runners
PAST: SCHWARZENEGGER SEX INTERVIEW, BUSTAMANTE STUDENT GROUP IN THE NEWS

By Laura Kurtzman and Edwin Garcia
Mercury News

The 1970s have come back to haunt the two leading candidates to replace Gov. Gray Davis.

Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger is shrugging off crass remarks he made about sex in a 1977 interview with the soft-porn magazine Oui, while Democratic Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante is trying to swat down the accusation that a group he belonged to as a student was racist. As with much political dirt since the 1998 Monica Lewinsky scandal, the Schwarzenegger interview surfaced Wednesday on the Internet. The accusations about Bustamante have been circulating via e-mail for several days.

Schwarzenegger's colorful past as a bodybuilder has been amply recorded in articles, books and the movie ``Pumping Iron.''

A recent Field Poll on the actor's image found that rumors of his infidelity and steroid use were minor liabilities with voters.

Bustamante's controversy is more obscure to the average voter, although it is being featured on conservative talk radio and Fox TV news. It involves his participation in a Mexican-American student group called Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan that critics say espouses separatist and racist views. Bustamante was a member in 1975, as a student at California State University-Fresno.

More at the San Jose Mercury News

[slackmaster]

1. Everyone has heard of sex, but most have not heard of MEChA

Unfortunately the first description most California voters will hear of MEChA will come from right-wing columnists and "common taters".

I learned about MEChA in college back in the '70s. I'm not afraid of it because it's really a cultural pride movement. The whole Aztlan thing is metaphorical for most MEChistas. But the right will say otherwise, and what they tell California voters is going to scare the crap out of a lot of them.

Mark my words, Bustamante had better get a handle on this one QUICKLY or he's toast.

[shanti]

2. right you are

i grew up in southern california in the 60's and 70's and my own high school had a MECHA club. to me (i'm white), it was just the same as the BSU (black student union), a cultural club. i never thought about it as a hate group...

[ferg]

3. Pretty weak, if this is all they've got on Bustamante

Really. Who's going to care about a student group?

The only ones who are going to care are the right-wing nutcases and they're all voting for McClintock.

[Frangible]

4. Cultural pride?

How's that? The organization's very motto is as racist as anything the Nazis came up with, and they officially desire to remove all white leadership from "Aztlan" (ie Mexico / SW US). But I guess because they're not white racists it's a-ok.

Sorry, but you can't spin that off as Club Cinco de Mayo.

[Capn Sunshine]

5. I think the Bustamante thing might seem significant to outsiders

and other operatives in the Repug and journalism world new to California.

ANYONE who grew up here knows MECHA is a harmless cultural edcucational group. They helped spawn MALDEF, a more prominent interest /lobbying group today.

To hop about hysterically about this just indicates you're a newbie to us.

It's like mentioning membership in the "anti-gay" group, the Boy Scouts.

[Frangible]

6. Which MEChA are you talking about?

Cause it doesn't like the one Bustamante was in.

MEChA's symbol is an eagle clutching a dynamite stick and machete-like weapon in its claws; its motto is "Por La Raza todo. Fuera de La Raza nada (For the Race, everything. For those outside the Race, nothing)."

"We do not recognize capricious frontiers on the bronze continent. Brotherhood unites us, and love for our brothers makes us a people whose time has come and who struggles against the foreigner 'gabacho' who exploits our riches and destroys our culture. With our heart in our hands and our hands in the soil, we declare the independence of our mestizo nation. We are a bronze people with a bronze culture."


Do you realize what that would sound like if it was a white supremist organization?

[Capn Sunshine]

12. Calm down; it was the 70's

Mecha is what it is, and why white supremacy has anything to do with this--a growing consciousness in that period that they were a seperate identity--- is truly a huge stretch more apropos to the anti-immigrant websites.

Your harranguing on behalf of those threatened by the spiritual unification of the peoples of the Southwest is bordering on hysterical. Its a non issue. It sounds like commies in the closet red baiting.

By the way the term "raza" while translated into english literally as "Race" is not used in the same context as in the English language, any more than the term "pueblo" refers to a town.

Perhaps this is the genesis of your misunderstanding.

[Frangible]

15. I'm not seeing a misunderstanding here

According Miguel Perez of MEChA, at Cal State Northridge ''When asked his preference of government, he replied, ‘Communism would be closest. Non-Chicanos would have to be expelled…opposition groups would be quashed because you have to keep the power.'''

I'm literally reading quotes from MEChA's and their mission statement. Perhaps it is you who are misunderstanding them.

[userdave2061]

7. More info on MECHA

http://www.thesocialcontract.com/cgi-bin/showarticle.pl?articleID=912&terms=

Founded in 1969, Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan (MEChA) is the youngest of the four ''Hispanic'' organizations. It is also the most unabashedly racist and its pronouncements the most incendiary. Reconquista The Takeover of America, prepared and published by the California Coalition for Immigration Reform in 1997, documents the truth about MEChA by quoting what the founders and supporters of this organization have said.

The first chapter of MEChA, called ''El Plan de AZTLAN,'' was established at the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1969. Other chapters eventually were formed at other colleges and even at high schools. ''According to Miguel Carillo, a Chula Vista High School teacher, there are MEChA chapters at over 90% of the high schools in San Diego and Los Angeles.''

Money facilitated this rapid growth. Where did the money come from? As unbelievable as it sounds, according to Jacqueline Carrasco of UCLA, ''Most chapters get their budget from the (tax-funded) schools and sometimes from the associated students. Funds range from $100 to $8000 for larger schools such as Cal State Northrop.''

Among the demands MEChA has made are rescinding California Proposition 187 (ending welfare benefits to illegal aliens); rescinding all ''English Only laws; abolishing the Immigration and Naturalization Service and the Border Patrol; and open borders.

The goal of MEChA, however, is an independent ''Aztlan,'' the collective name this organization gives to the seven States of the U.S. Southwest — Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah. According Miguel Perez of MEChA, at Cal State Northridge ''When asked his preference of government, he replied, ‘Communism would be closest. Non-Chicanos would have to be expelled…opposition groups would be quashed because you have to keep the power.'''

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

9. So while Arnold was gangbanging women, Cruz was already heading towards

social justice....Guess we know who began a life dedicated to public service (but that depends on your interpretation of service)

[userdave2061]

10. If you consider expelling Non-Chicanos social justice then I'm speechless

I don't tolerate racism of any sort.

[Cheswick2.0]

36. so one guy in the organization says something stupid

and this Smears all the other members? Please, I'll take questionable political organization over gang rape anyday.

[slackmaster]

56. PMFJI, what is the gang rape reference referring to?

[Frangible]

11. I'm not sure...

If I'd call killing all the white people in the southwestern US "public service".

That said, I'd still like to hear from Bustamante himself what his affiliation was, to what degree, and where he stands on the issue.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

17. I'm not sure that I trust the group that prepared the papers

"California Coalition for Immigration Reform" in 1997. Living in California I know this was Barabra Coe's group. They also purchased billboards placed at the California border that stated "Welcome to California, the illegal immigration state." They also purchased ads about how "they are making our classrooms overflow" with Mexican faces in the ads.

When a RACIST organization screams racism...I have my doubts.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[userdave2061]

14. What are you trying to imply?

If there is an issue with the reference I posted why are you sparking on me instead of the source? Are you presenting some evidence that this group is above board and not showing racist behaviour?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

19. Yes your reference was prepared by Californians for Immigration reform

I don't care about the site you pulled this from. The group that prepared the papers IS A RACIST ORGANIZATION and you have posted nOTHING but anti-Dem crap all day...so yes...you have earned the treatment you are getting...

[userdave2061]

20. Racist? anti-dem? crap?

Maybe in a hateful narrow mind would such an accusation be made.

If any of the groups mentioned are racists it the one calling for deportation.

Not on thing I have posted is anti-dem. If anything it's anti-racist, anti-hate and pro-fairness.

I think you personal attacks are crap and would appreciate it if you knock it off. Newbies deserve better respect than what you are dishing out.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

23. I pointed out that Barbara Coe's group was racist

I am well aware of them, I live here. I pointed out on another thread how you posted that it was the environmental protection agency precluding 2 little girls from selling soda pop when in fact it was a city licensing office, inspections and environmental protections all under the roof of one city organization.

I pointed out that so far, you have slammed criticized a democrat and an agency that protects the environment.

Prove that my challenging your posts is a personal attack.

I base my love of newbies on the content of their posts. I then treat them accordingly..if you feel I have broken the rules..hit the alert..I sure as hell hit it on you.

[snippy]

28. I have looked at more than a dozen MEChA websites and find them to be

concerned with social justice more than anything else. At worst they could appear to be milder versions of kreepers and shittoheads with an hispanic perspective. I also have looked at several websites critical of MEChA and find them to be hateful, disgustingly bigoted and full of lies.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

31. Bottom line is the link he provided has hit pieces by a racist group

They rpomote Barbara Coe's interpretation of Mecha.. I provided links below on all of the various campus associations and their mission statements.

[snippy]

41. True.

[userdave2061]

42. Here's a state sponsored site with the same message

http://www.sjsu.edu/orgs/mecha/elplan_aztlan.html

I'm sorry it didn't come up first in my search of more knowledge.

Is what they propose on this state sponsored site ok with your values?

[californication]

37. San Jose State Chapter OF Mecha

http://www.sjsu.edu/orgs/mecha/index.html

Read the El plan De Aztlan

[userdave2061]

38. Interesting

http://www.sjsu.edu/orgs/mecha/elplan_aztlan.html

We are free and sovereign to determine those tasks which are justly called for by our house, our land, the sweat of our brows, and by our hearts. Aztlán belongs to those who plant the seeds, water the fields, and gather the crops and not to the foreign Europeans. We do not recognize capricious frontiers on the bronze continent

Nationalism as the key to organization transcends all religious, political, class, and economic factions or boundaries. Nationalism is the common denominator that all members of La Raza can agree upon.

#7 POLITICAL LIBERATION can only come through independent action on our part, since the two-party system is the same animal with two heads that feed from the same trough. Where we are a majority, we will control; where we are a minority, we will represent a pressure group; nationally, we will represent one party: La Familia de La Raza!

Action

1. Awareness and distribution of El Plan Espiritual de Aztlán. Presented at every meeting, demonstration, confrontation, courthouse, institution, administration, church, school, tree, building, car, and every place of human existence.
2. September 16, on the birthdate of Mexican Independence, a national walk-out by all Chicanos of all colleges and schools to be sustained until the complete revision of the educational system: its policy makers, administration, its curriculum, and its personnel to meet the needs of our community.
3. Self-Defense against the occupying forces of the oppressors at every school, every available man, woman, and child.
4. Community nationalization and organization of all Chicanos: El Plan Espiritual de Aztlán.
5. Economic program to drive the exploiter out of our community and a welding together of our people's combined resources to control their own production through cooperative effort.
6. Creation of an independent local, regional, and national political party.

Pretty bold for a .edu sponsored site.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

39. How about reading the goals and objectives...funny you two should meet

Maybe you would both wish to deny what it is like to be an exploited minority in a state made wealthy off the backs of migrant labor. It is quite easy to recontextualize the message of this group as racism unless you have walked a mile in their shoes and been on the other end of the opression. As one whose father worked directly with Ceasar Chavez and who has witnessed the exploitation of undocumented workers, I really have no problem with this group.

If you both would like to share your irrational fears, I would be more than willing to hear them.

http://www.sjsu.edu/orgs/mecha/

[userdave2061]

40. Care to defend some of the more radical goals from the URL I posted?

I will listen with an open mind.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

43. You first...define what is radical about the goal

I'll be more than happy to address it..I am not a mind reader.

[userdave2061]

44. Let's start with this one

5. Economic program to drive the exploiter out of our community and a welding together of our people's combined resources to control their own production through cooperative effort.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

45. What is so radical about not wishing to be exploited?

In the context of the sweatshops that Chicanos worked in at the time these objectives were created, I fail to see how that objective can be viewed as radical by anyone but someone trying to exploit them.

next?

[userdave2061]

47. Ok, next

Nationalism as the key to organization transcends all religious, political, class, and economic factions or boundaries. Nationalism is the common denominator that all members of La Raza can agree upon.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

48. Again, if one is talking white supremacy, it is very distinct from one

whose nationalism has been used to exploit them. If they didn't lean to their nationalism, they would have gone the way of native americans and lost their language and their traditions at the hands of people trying to homogenize them in spite of the fact that they were NOT including them based on their national identity.

YOu are viewing this through the context of the KKK...not the same with the underdog.

Next.

[userdave2061]

49. Nationalism is only ok if you allow all nationalities to exist

This group appears (I could be wrong here) to allow only their nationality to exist in their undefined boundries. I can't get past this obvious malfunction of humanity, compassion and diversity which I was raised to embrace.

In the worldly picture the KKK is but a small blight on humanity and they are shrinking every day as should all nationalists and racists.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

50. small blight on humanity???

They controlled the lion's share of our government for a period of time and their policies have been co-opted by Conservative citizens groups such as the one your site used as a resource (Barbara Coe)

I think there is a VERY big difference in summoning nationalism in order to NOT be oppressed versus summoning it in order TO OPPRESS...that is a distinction that appears to be missing for you.

What difference does it make if a mexican renounces their nationalism only to meet the same end as a mexican who doesn't.

The fact that these organizations came into existance at all was as a response to the bigotry they were treated with ...certainly not the reverse.

[userdave2061]

51. Ahem

First, in todays world the KKK is nothing but a good reminder of how not to act and they are reigned in enough to be a non-threat (as sick as they are).

Second, the first site I posted was found through google and I had never heard of them before. I take your word that they are bad news.

The other site is a CA state sponsered website and some of the nationalist messages they espouse concern me.

I warmly welcome any nationality to immigrate here and become a voting American citizen.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

52. But the nationalist message of the groups that are out to smear them

is not a concern for you?

I think enough people who had contact with these organizations on campuses have posted on these threads in order to allay your concerns...they didn't seem to be appeased.

I rather doubt one can say bigotry and prejudice have been neutered and the conservative citizens council which has morphed out of the KKK and the militia groups tied to white supremact movements are somewhat neutralized due to vigilance on the part of liberals..certainly not because they laid down their nooses and gave up.

Be that as it may, you ccertainly have not demonstrated that MECHa is the threat you perceive them to be...that is the definition of an irrational fear.

[userdave2061]

53. back the truck up

You yourself claimed to not read minds. Please don't mistake my sloppy writing non-skills and kneejerk postings wrong without verifying it with me. Sometimes going slow is good.

I'm not concerned about a nationalist takeover - it's more of a concious talking to myself and looking for debate.

I'd rather think that the KKK thought process has been kept in check by self control rather than liberal edict. Call me an optimist or at least mislead.

As I said, I don't perceive MECHa as a threat as much as I enjoy the opinion of others on the subject. Thanks for sharing yours and sorry to get off on my stubborn slant so soon.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

54. No they were bankrupted by Morris Dees...vapid racists don't know

self control.

[snippy]

55. "KKK is . . . reigned in enough to be a non-threat." I disagree.

The "Nigger Hating" wing of the republican party is alive and well. And influential. That is why Bush spread the rumor during the South Carolina primary campaign that John McCain had a "nigger" daughter. That also is why so many republican politicians "freedom kiss" the rectums of the Council of Conservative Citizens.

[pfitz59]

8. 70's were great!

Pre-aids sex, and drugs and rock and roll! Long live the 70's!

[MaryBear]

16. My understanding

is that it is about culture, not race, other than to claim pride in being of mixed european and indian heritage, which in the past was demonized by europeans. Mexican American culture is beautiful and in my experience inclusive of all who respect and or embrace it.

On edit: this flashback will hurt only Ahnold.

[davidinalameda]

18. I found a link to A website

on an anti-hate website and I can't find the link now.

ON EDIT

Found the website address

http://aztlan.net/

this site is anti-gay, anti-Semetic

It calls Gray Davis "The Manjewrian Candidate", etc.

I have no idea if this site is affiliated with the MEChA. It doesn't have a links section.


They also take donations through PayPal. I think that I'm going to contact PayPal or at least have my partner do it because he has an account through them, and let them what kind of site this is.

[slackmaster]

21. About a year ago www.mecha.com was owned by radicals

Serious racist leftists claiming to be the "real" MEChA. It was quite harsh, anti-white and anti-Semitic.

There was another site, http://www.aztlan.org (also down at the present time) which was very moderate and non-threatening and claimed that http://www.mecha.com was run by a fringe group which did not reflect the true values of MEChA. My own experience with the UC San Diego MEChA group in the 1970s was that they were more of a social club than a revolutionary organization. They were pro-Cesar Chavez and supported liberalization of immigration, but not outright rebellion.

[davidinalameda]

22. azatlan.org is down

and the mecha.com is a Japanese site, probably anime

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

24. Pretty much my experience as well

I think Coe's group started the other site to discredit.

[slackmaster]

26. You may be right about that

It was so over-the-top I found it very hard to believe anyone could be so blatantly hateful.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

27. Lookie here, Guess Cruz isn't the first one they've done this with

May 11, 2001

Union Tribune Exposed Villaraigosa, Now Hides Story

SHERMAN OAKS -- American Patrol -- May 11 -- On February 13, 1999, the San Diego Union-Tribune ran a story entitled, "Speaker-elect product of a humble past, fiery ascent." by Ed Mendel, a Union-Tribune staff writer. Unfortunatley, it can no longer be found on the Union-Tribune website even though the archive goes back many years.

Villaraigosa praises former Mexican President Zedillo for helping to kill Proposition 187. The photo above was taken in Mexico City (L.A. Times, August 4, 1999). Download a more precise PDF version .

In the story, the Union Trib reports says that Villaraigosa is very much a product of his past and is proud of it -- both his rise from the streets of East Los Angeles and his political involvement
http://www.americanpatrol.com/CALIFORNIA/VILLARAIGOSA/VillaraigosaTribStory.html

And here's an interesting perspective I found on a blog site..great blog btw:

August 20, 2003
Bustamante and the Anti-MEChA Canard
As the rightwing guns for Cruz Bustamante, it was inevitable that they would use a racist attack on his membership in the organization, MEChA. Oh yeah, and in true Orwellian doublethink, they would cloak their racist attack by labelling MEChA "racist" or even "fascist."

Let's be clear what MEChA is-- it's been the major student organization of latinos in California for decades. It is so mainstream that almost every major progressive latino in the state was a member at some point. When I was in California, MEChA involved the main leadership of latino activists fighting for education funding and a range of other issues.

So if you call MEChA racist and fascist, you are basically saying that most latino politicians in California are the equivalent of Nazis.

Which is what the Right wants to do. Take this section of the diatribe I linked to above, with its unsourced allegations. At least here is quoting from an actual official MEChA document, its early "Port Huron" style manifesto. Says TownHall's Malkin:

http://www.nathannewman.org/log/archives/001071.shtml

Here is a site that I did find:
HISTORICAL FOUNDATION
The fundamental principles that led to the founding of Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán are found in El Plan de Santa Barbara (EPDSB). The Manifesto of EPDSB sees self-determination for the Chicana and Chicano Chicano and Chicana Movement in El Plan Espiritual de Aztlán (EPEDA). A synopsis of El Plan stipulates: 1) We are Chicanos and Chicanas of Aztlán reclaiming the land of out birth (Chicano and Chicana Nation); 2) Aztlán belongs to indigenous people, who are sovereign and not subject to a foreign culture; 3) We are a union of free pueblos forming a bronze nation; 4) Chicano and Chicana nationalism, as the key in mobilization and organization, is the common denominator to bring consensus to the Chicano and Chicana Movement; 5) Cultural values strengthen our identity as La Familia de La Raza; and 6) EPEDA, as a basic plan of Chicano and Chicana liberation, sought the formation of am independent national political party that would represent the sentiments of the Chicano and Chicana community.
Both EPDSB and EPEDA served as the historical foundation for the establishment of a viable Chicano and Chicana Movimiento, and are therefore, fundamental to the M.E.Ch.A. philosophy.

M.E.Ch.A.'S PHILOSOPHY

The Chicano and Chicana student movement has been plagued by opportunists that have sought to rechannel the energies of our people and divert us from our struggle for self-determination. The educational plight of Chicana and Chicano students continues to be ignored by insensitive administrators. Overall, Chicano and Chicana junior high, high school and college push-out rates have risen since 1969, forcing many Chicanos and Chicanas to a life of poverty. These factors along with a growing right wing trend in the nation are combing to work greater hardships on Chicanos and Chicanas. New repressive and racist immigration laws are continuously directed at our Gente. The Federal government is campaigning to pacify and assimilate our Gente by labeling us "Hispanic." The term "Hispanic" seeks to anglicize and deny our indigenous heritage by ignoring our unique socioeconomic and historical aspect of our Gente. These factors have made it necessary for Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán to affirm our philosophy of liberation (i.e. educational, socioeconomic, and political empowerment) for our Chicano and Chicana nation.
Joining with other community-based Chicano and Chicana nationalist organizations, M.E.Ch.A. is committed to ending the cultural tyranny suffered at the hands of institutional and systematic discrimination that holds our Gente captive. We seek an end to oppression and exploitation of the Chicano and Chicana Community
http://www.panam.edu/orgs/mecha/nat.html

http://www.panam.edu/orgs/mecha/MEChAlnk.html

[Democat]

25. The media is so right wing biased

They attack Democrats all the time, but when they are even slightly critical of a Republican they have to bash a Democrat in the same article.

[emalejim]

29. MECHA , past and present

Speaking from a Latino prospective, the claim that MECHA is a racist and separatist orginzation is a stretch, but leave it to the Repukes to make this claim.

As previously mentioned, almost every college latino student past and present has ties to MECHA. The MECHA of the past was greatly associated with the Ceasar Chavez movement of fighting for respectable rights and wages for farm workers. Sure there may have been some suspect activity during this fight for fair working conditions, but it's not like the UAW fought a clean battle too. The last time checked there is a mix of every race in the UAW union. So, the claim that this orginazation is out to conquer and eliminate all anglo's is stupid. I encourage anyone interested in MECHA to do a search under Ceaser Chavez as opposed to MECHA. I would not put it past the Repukes to set up several radical phony MECHA sites that claim to be the perspectives and opinions of MECHA.

The MECHA of today is open for any race it is non-discriminatory. As latinos intergrate into the world there are many colors that make up a latin and it is foolish to turn away any person wanting to join the orginazation. The MECHA today is a support group for latino students striving to be the first in their family to recieve a college diploma. With dismal Latinao college graduates, MECHA offers mentoring and participation with instructors to keep a young Latino students dream alive of a college degree. Hell, many professors within MECHA devote their time to help students see this dream become a reality.

This issue has the potential backfire on the Repukes. I beleive that they did not research this orginazation thouroughly and the critisism can be reveresed by the Bustamante camp. Going after MECHA is reversing the struggles made by so many latins fighting for a cause. It would be like attacking any African American candidate for their involvement with the Black Panthers. There was time when us minorities had to make stand for equality and fairness.

The Bustamante camp should schedule news conference at a local college with fellow MECHA members, past and present and claim this is an attack on all latinos that are fighting for fair and equitable playing field. If this isssue lasts more than a week, the Repukes are going to drive more Latinos to the polls.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

35. Welcome to DU..I hope you are correct not in your interpretation of MECHa

but in your assessment of how it will backfire on Repubs. Remember, they are going to use this and prop 54 to energize the racist vote. Hopefully, Dems have done enough footwork on GOTV statewide to make a difference. I know we are working down south.

[sandnsea]

46. Welcome!!

Your post makes the most sense of all. I have recollections of the rather new Latino movement in California, sort of just really taking root during the 70's. And everything in Latino politics seemed connected to Cesar Chavez. And naturally more to the socialist view, not only because of Chavez but because all movements in the 60's and 70's leaned a bit socialist. So it is probably true that this label would be put on anybody who was active politically in the 70's. However, I also have a few Latino friends and have heard talk of 'Aztlan', but never in a racist way. But of course I'm white, so they might have just omitted that part, wouldn't want to tip me off or anything!! lol!

[emalejim]

30. MECHA , past and present

Speaking from a Latino prospective, the claim that MECHA is a racist and separatist orginzation is a stretch, but leave it to the Repukes to make this claim.

As previously mentioned, almost every college latino student past and present has ties to MECHA. The MECHA of the past was greatly associated with the Ceasar Chavez movement of fighting for respectable rights and wages for farm workers. Sure there may have been some suspect activity during this fight for fair working conditions, but it's not like the UAW fought a clean battle too. The last time checked there is a mix of every race in the UAW union. So, the claim that this orginazation is out to conquer and eliminate all anglo's is stupid. I encourage anyone interested in MECHA to do a search under Ceaser Chavez as opposed to MECHA. I would not put it past the Repukes to set up several radical phony MECHA sites that claim to be the perspectives and opinions of MECHA.

The MECHA of today is open for any race it is non-discriminatory. As latinos intergrate into the world there are many colors that make up a latin and it is foolish to turn away any person wanting to join the orginazation. The MECHA today is a support group for latino students striving to be the first in their family to recieve a college diploma. With dismal Latinao college graduates, MECHA offers mentoring and participation with instructors to keep a young Latino students dream alive of a college degree. Hell, many professors within MECHA devote their time to help students see this dream become a reality.

This issue has the potential backfire on the Repukes. I beleive that they did not research this orginazation thouroughly and the critisism can be reveresed by the Bustamante camp. Going after MECHA is reversing the struggles made by so many latins fighting for a cause. It would be like attacking any African American candidate for their involvement with the Black Panthers. There was time when us minorities had to make stand for equality and fairness.

The Bustamante camp should schedule news conference at a local college with fellow MECHA members, past and present and claim this is an attack on all latinos that are fighting for fair and equitable playing field. If this isssue lasts more than a week, the Repukes are going to drive more Latinos to the polls.

[emalejim]

32. OOPS sorry first post ever!

[snippy]

33. First two posts ever. Good post too. I agree with your suggestion.

[slackmaster]

34. Welcome to DU - the boards are acting strangely today

Especially General Discussion.

I just noticed another symptom - emalejim's post count shows as "0" although obviously he's made at least three here.

:)